Sunday, September 24, 2006

....see the problem?

I don't often (In fact, I haven't ever) used this blog to sound off about events. However the events at the poker game last night warrant a first time. Of course, as this is my blog, was follows is a completely biased opinion based on my own experience.

The setting: I don't honestly remember the last time the blonds rules have changed. We used to debate every week about how the blinds should go up and how often. After fielding complaints of games running too long/short (which is completely decided by the blinds schedule), we settled upon every 20 minutes: 1-2,2-4,3-6, 4-8, 5-10, 10-20, 15-30, etc. This is the way we've played all summer. This is the way we play well before summer.

The cause: People in general are complacent. As long as someone's telling them what's going on, they don't worry about how the person knows or is deciding. THey say the blinds go up, they go up. They say we have five minutes, the next hand, whatever, that's fine. Traditionally, that person is not me. I'm usually not paying enough attention to make sure the blinds go up on time. Also, I'm often out early which means I stop paying attention altogether. Perhaps this has resulted in whomever is doing the blinds to do them incorrectly or in a lax manner.

The incident: The blinds were due to go up at 10:45. Yes, that time is right: 10:45. When did we start the game? 8. The football game was on so I was watching that as I shuffled the cards. How often does Brian or I forget to or gets involved in a hand and doesn't get a chance to shuffle? Often. Before I dealt, I looked up at the clock and noticed it was 8:48 (I'm estimating being that it's analog). So, I say "blinds go up." The rule I was following is that a hand starts officially when the first card is dealt (see below for official rules). Since the people in the blinds were unhappy that I didn't realize the blinds were suppose to have gone up (mind you, there wasn't a debate about whether 8:45 was the correct time for them to go up), discussions began about delaying the game, being informed of the blinds echedule, me making decisions about the game, my integrity as a poker player, my integrity as the time keeper, my integrity as a dealer.

The deal: The deal is twofold. First, Perhaps it's because the game is at my apartment. Perhaps it's because I watched more poker on TV than anyone else. I don't know. But in the year we've been having this game, all major decisions regarding winning hands, rules, and game structure have gone to me. This has occured with both tables I've been at and, during 2 table games, tables I'm not at who call me over to settle a dispute. In addition, I have been dealing. I say at the beginning of many games that I don't need to deal. I feel that it's quicker for a single person (per deck) to deal. IN the past when I've offered this job to deal for the game, people tell me to just do it.

Second, This incident occured at 10:45 meaning blinds had been going up for almost 3 hours. During which time there were several delays due to football in addition to the blinds going up almost 9 times. IN any of this time, however, there were 0 (zero) complaints about the delays affecting the blinds (people complained about it being anmnoying in general, but not with concern over when the blinds went up). And 0 (zero) questions about when the blinds went up. IN fact, when we went from 5-10 to 15-30, I reexplained the blinds schedule. I was made aware that sometimes when I'm not at the table, the blinds go up incorrectly. In other words, at any point in the game someone could have A. looked at the clock when the blinds went up, added 20 minutes, and known when they went up again. B. ASKED!

Then, on top of all this, it was suggested that the possibility existed that I could be waiting for opportune moments to raise the blinds. This was possibly the worst of all.

Summary: People get upset when things affect them. Otherwise, they're unconcerned about certain rules. If there was a concern about me being timekeeper or dealer or a lack of trust in my ability to be fair and honest, it should have been addressed in the beginning of the tournament, not the end.

Official Rules: The following is a link to several rule books. I will keep this link on hand in the future to settle any disputes. http://www.homepokertourney.com/rules_poker.htm

The official rules from the World Series of Poker: A new deal starts at the first shuffle of cards following a hand. I was mistaken. HOWEVER, being that both the last hand ended and I started shuffling at 10:45, the outcome would have been the same using either rules. I base every decision I make on the rules as I know them. I invite the group the decide on someone else to be in charge of knowing and enforcing tournament rules. All I will dictate is that there needs to be ONE person who is well-versed in all tournament rules (within reason) and that person be the final decision in all matters. I am happy to continue doing it but only with the support of the rest of the game's members.

2 Comments:

At 12:26 PM, Blogger Annamal said...

The suggestion was NOT that you wait for the opportune time to raise the blinds; I don’t think that any one of us playing believes that you would ever do any such thing. There is, however, the possibility that one could manipulate said events. In addition, my complaint WAS with the principle, not simply because I was involved in the blinds. I had already declared my intentions to go blind all-in (out of turn I know). It really didn’t influence me at all. I know you feel the rules are clear and that the 20-minute rule has become standard. The duration has changed often and for many of us the biweekly poker game is not the focal point of our lives. Due to the primary focus being on the football game, much of the poker playing was sporadic, and yes, the blinds were not always going up on schedule making it difficult to determine the duration. I’m all for rules, I’m all for enforcing the rules. But make the rules clear at the outset and continually enforce them. This is why I asked if it had been announced prior to my arrival. The extreme enforcement of this incident was out of character with the rest of the game, and honestly, your determination to hold to the schedule at this moment seemed derived primarily out of anger with me. Brian, nobody questions your integrity as a player, time keeper, or dealer. Nobody believes that you were intentionally doing anything to influence your outcome in the game. We all know that you are concerned with maintaining the official tournament rules, that I’m assuming are designed to assure fairness. You are called upon to deal and judge because it is your game: you started the series, you schedule the games, they’re usually at your place, and you care more about poker than most of us. I was frustrated with the game continually being delayed due to football. You kept telling us to say something when someone wasn’t aware it was their turn, but if we do people get annoyed, and even smack us online. I’m sorry you had such a bad time last night, but there’s blame enough to go around.

 
At 12:26 PM, Blogger Annamal said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

 

Post a Comment

<< Home

Counter
Free Counter